7-list: Acting talent from the college crowd
By Marcus Whalbring
Entertainment Editor
Finding talent among young actors and actresses can be a task that requires digging into both small independent films and huge blockbusters. Most critics tend to think that the only acting experience available for young people in Hollywood can be found in three places: teen slasher films, college comedies with a lot of alcohol and sex or the Harry Potter movies. Those three categories can include performances by talented actors, but there are many other genres of film that also require gifted young performers. The people in this list have represented the college-aged generation very well, and they may even grace the stage at the Academy Awards someday. This list, however, carries two criteria: no one on the list started out as a teen pop singer, and at no point was Lindsay Lohan ever considered a possibility.
7. Shia LaBeouf, born in 1986. It’s true that Shia achieved his acclaim on the Disney Channel, but since “Even Stevens,” he has shown his abilities as an actor in a few roles that he made his own. He has a quick wit and a sense of clever humor that can seem like a guy on too much caffeine (“Transformers”), but he also can enliven the dramatic roles with believable emotion (“The Greatest Game Ever Played” and “Disturbia”). His next projects include the new installment of Indiana Jones, opposite Harrison Ford, and “Eagle Eye,” directed by D.J. Caruso (“Disturbia”).
6. Keira Knightley, born in 1985. When people think of Keira Knightley, the first thing that comes to mind is probably her role as Elizabeth Swann in “Pirates of the Caribbean,” but it was her role as Elizabeth Bennet in “Pride and Prejudice” that landed her on this list. “Pride and Prejudice” is definitely a film worth seeing if you want to observe Knightley at her best. She has had other commendable roles as well (“Atonement” and “Silk”) and likely will have more in the future. Her future projects include the films “The Duchess” and “The Edge of Love.”
5. Joseph Cross, born in 1986. That kid who played Michael Keaton’s son in “Jack Frost” years ago is all grown up, and he’s starting to bloom into an actor who knows how to tackle dramatic films. His two latest films were “Running with Scissors” and “Flags of Our Fathers.” Great things can be expected of his next two projects: “Untraceable” and “The Golden Door.”
4. Paul Dano, born in 1984. His cartoon-like face and overly-cynical attitude stole the attention of viewers in “Little Miss Sunshine.” Clearly Paul Dano takes his career as an actor very seriously, and he seems to be interested in roles that challenge him in his performance. Audiences can expect to see Dano again in “Explicit Ills” and “Where the Wild Things Are.”
3. Michael Cera, born in 1988. Cera is a very young talent who has focused on comedy for the most part, but he is clearly intelligent enough to take on more serious roles in the future. He is most well-known for his leading role in “Superbad,” but the fake documentary-style show that he shares with Clark Duke, which can be viewed on clarkandmichael.com, show how clever a writer he is and how intelligent an actor he can be. Michael Cera’s next project is a film called “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.”
2. Shareeka Epps, born in 1989. Epps is the youngest on the list, but she may also have the brightest future ahead of her. She started out as the young introverted student opposite Ryan Gosling in the critically acclaimed film “Half Nelson.” Even though it was her first role in film, Epps showed tremendous maturity and ability that will likely show up again and again in the future. Her next films are the sequel to “Alien vs. Predator” and “Four.”
1. Scarlett Johansson, born in 1984. She has been very busy over the last few years, sometimes taking on two to three roles at a time. With titles under her belt like “The Prestige,” “In Good Company” and “Scoop,” Johansson will likely prove herself as the actress from our generation who will be most remembered for her craft. She has a laundry list of films coming up in the next few years that include “The Other Boleyn Girl,” opposite Natalie Portman, and “Vicky Christina Barcelona.”
